How To Write Song Lyrics: Mastering The Art Of Music

learn how to write song lyrics. our step-by-step guide empowers aspiring songwriters to make song lyrics, how to compose a song lyrics. Song structure

Introduction To How To Write Song Lyrics: Understanding The Power Of Music and Lyrics

How To Write Song Lyrics —Songwriting is an art that weaves together the soul of music and the power of words. Good lyrics to a song are very significant, poignant, and often times define the essence of the song itself, aside from its magical melodies. The power of good song lyrics cannot be overemphasized, as they create relatable and long-lasting experiences that resonate magically with and among the audience that listens to them. A notable number of artistes who are the quintessence of the said "good lyrics with refined melodies" are arguably Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi et al., and from experience, the audience has undeniably come to enjoy and appreciate the effort these artistes and songwriters put into their lyrical works of art.

Writing creative song lyrics, especially a good one, can be very challenging. At times, songwriters are bound to experience writer's block, and it can be overwhelming to imagine where to start. But one thing is sure regardless, once you have the drive or a firm motive to write quality song lyrics, you will hardly get swayed by other factors.

But the questions on how to write the lyrics of a song are: How do you write a song lyrics in a way that conveys your message perfectly to your audience? How do you make them connect to the music through the lyrics as well? What makes a song lyrics good?

In this article, we will give a step-by-step guide on how to write song lyrics, the connection between the music and lyrics, the foundational types of song structures, how to write meaningful and concise verses with great rhyme schemes, and many other things that can aid your writing skills as far as song lyrics are concerned.

How To Write Song Lyrics: A Step-by-Step Guide

Mastering the art of how to write a song lyrics is indispensable to understanding that at the heart of every great song lies the delicate balance between music and lyrics. In other words, while the music sets the emotional tone and creates a specific atmosphere, the lyrics, on the other hand, create more attachments to the song. The synergy of both good music and lyrics can lead to the creation of timeless songs.

Below are some steps to follow on how to write a song lyrics:

1. Choose A Title:  Having a title at first can be a good headstart, but at the same time, it's not actually a hard-and-fast rule. It helps you to ensure you write lyrics surrounding a particular theme or story, and that can restrain you from deviating outside the ingenuity of the story or idea behind the song.

"Come up with a bloody damn good hook and the title… that’s your stand-out piece and what the song is built around."

— Scarlette Fever

2. Understand The Types Of Song Structure and The Structure of Song Lyrics: It is quite essential that writing a song lyrics, like all writing, consist of structures or parts that distinguish them from the others. Following these structures makes your lyrics more defined and helps you understand how most songs sound and are made. Song structures technically provide the framework that holds a song together as they guide its progression from start to finish. Different structures offer unique ways to arrange verses, choruses, bridges, and other sections, allowing you to experiment and create diverse musical experiences.

The following are the essential structures of song lyrics:

1. The Introduction: This is the beginning of the song, and often leads into the song. Occasionally, it may slightly deviate from the main body of the song in terms of pace or rhythm, whereas other times, it might not even be present. It's not uncommon for songs to lack an introduction, so it's not obligatory to have one while writing your song lyrics.
2. Verse: This is the main part, and undeniably the most essential part of a song, aside from the chorus. It takes nothing less than 50% of the whole song. They narrate the story or express emotions. Unlike the chorus, although the melody is the same, the lyrics are different in each verse.
3. A Chorus - This is the part of the song that is repeated without any changes in terms of lyrics or melody—although slight changes may sometimes be made to it. It is usually the part of a song that the audience easily becomes familiar with. It is also where you try to fit the catchiest part of your song (usually called the hook). Basically, the chorus serves as the central message or hook that reinforces the song's theme.
4. A Bridge - It is a fascinating part of a song that you might find in some musical pieces, but not in all. Typically, it usually makes its appearance after the second chorus, offering a delightful contrast and sounding completely different from the rest of the song. It is also usually short, just a line or two of lyrics, and will sometimes lead into a key change.

3. Using The A-B-A-B, A-A-B-A or ABCBA Basic Song Structure:  You can either adopt the A-B-A-B, A-A-B-A or ABCBA song structure. The A-B-A-B structure, also known as the "binary form," features two contrasting sections, often represented as "A" and "B." While A represents the verse, B represents the chorus, and C represents the bridge.

 In other words, A verse is followed by a chorus, and the latter is followed by another verse and chorus, respectively. The same rule applies to the other structure, although the AABA song structure is mostly adopted in modern popular music.

Other basic song structures you can try out later on are AABB, ABA, AAAA, ABABCB, ABACABA, and so on.

4. Getting Inspiration and Tapping Into Your Creative Well: While attempting to write song lyrics, you may find yourself standing at the crossroads of creativity, searching for that elusive spark to ignite your songwriting journey. There are many things that can spark or spur you into this creative realm. They are:

"The most liberating way for me to write is when I’m not thinking at all."

— Trixie Whitley

• The stream-of-consciousness writing style. This involves writing nonstop about whatever comes to mind. This gives you a large stream of ideas that will eventually get pruned and edited to fit the title of the song. 
• Listen to the song lyrics of other artistes. Learn and see the ingenuity in the chorus, the repetition, and how they were able to resonate clearly and cleanly with the listeners.
• Follow your opinion on what to write about.
• Collaborating with other musicians or songwriters can also help inject new perspectives and energy into your work, thereby sparking fresh ideas.
• Find inspiration from personal experiences, memories, or emotions. This could help, especially if you normally jot down your thoughts in a journal. It could later become something magical to revisit. Also, embrace limitations as a creative catalyst.
• Utilizing the power of metaphor and imagery while writing the lyrics to the song.
• Read poems
• Keep to your writing style and don't be pressured to write anything less—although a little bit of adaptation can be helpful.

"Every single person can reclaim their ability to access creative flow."

— Beth Nielsen Chapman

If however, you are experiencing writer's block, you may consider changing your environment and tapping into other activities that could help enhance your creativity.

5. Write Engaging Verses: In the tapestry of how to write song lyrics, verses play a vital role in conveying and connecting the heart of the story to the listeners. Thus, writing engaging verses undeniably requires the delicate art of storytelling, vivid imagery, and the harmonious balance between specificity and universality.

How do you write the first verse of a song?

1. You can start by telling a story with your verses, drawn either from your personal experiences or fictional narratives. Then, incorporate into the story an emotional arc that can build tension or a climactic moment, leaving your audience hooked on every word from the song lyrics. Let's take Benson Boone's second verse on Ghost Town as an example:

"You know I'll stay don't you tempt me/But all this weight is getting heavy

Been holding up what wasn't meant to stand/I turned this love into a wasteland"

2. Also, if your verses involve the introduction of characters, develop them in a way that can resonate with the listeners. Avoid writing plain emotion; use sensory details, metaphor, symbolism, and a relatable atmosphere.

3. As regards creating a balance between specificity and universality, this involves creating a story either from personal experiences or fictional narratives within a universal theme. For instance, your love journey or experiences. 

4. You should also avoid too much ambiguity in this section on how to write the lyrics to a song. Allow room for interpretation in your verses. A degree of ambiguity lets listeners apply their own experiences to the narrative, creating a personal connection.

"A song is an ever-changing, ever-evolving and morphing thing."

— Simon Tong, The Magnetic North

6. Creating Impactful and Memorable Choruses: While learning how to write song lyrics, it's quite important to understand that choruses stand tall as the beating heart of every memorable composition. It is undeniably the part of a song that is easily remembered and leaves a lasting impression on the listener. So, technically, a badly written chorus would likely not garner the best impression of the song in its entirety.

Some of the things to consider while writing choruses for your songs are:

• Simplicity: Keep the chorus lyrics simple yet impactful. A concise and memorable hook makes it easier for listeners to connect with your song.
• A Strong Melodic Hook: Create a strong melodic hook that lingers in the minds of the listeners and makes the chorus stand out.
• Infuse Emotions: An emotionally charged word as a chorus can evoke a lasting, strong feeling among the listeners.

Benson Boone's chorus in Ghost Town is a quintessential example of this notion.

"Maybe you'd be happier with someone else/Maybe loving me's the reason you can't love yourself

Before I turn your heart into a ghost town/Show me everything we built so I can tear it all down"

• Make The Chorus The Heart Of The Song: This involves making the chorus the focal point through proper word arrangement and instrumentation, repetition for the sake of emphasis, and pre-chorus breaks in the song.

7. Show, Don't Just Tell!: Instead of explicitly stating your emotions, like "I'm so sad" or "I feel bad,"  you should always aim to create a vivid and evocative experience through your words. The best lyrics, just like any compelling writing, draw us in and make us feel emotions by capturing the essence of the experience rather than dictating what to feel. 

Here's an example of how to convey emotion effectively:

Original:

"I'm so sad, I just feel bad, my girlfriend left me today..."

Improved:

"In the shadows of twilight, memories of you invade my dreams; I pray not to awaken, for mornings without you are like sipping from an empty cup."

It's glaring from the improved version that there's a usage of descriptive language and metaphor in order to evolve a sense of loss and longing instead of outrightly stating the sadness.

8. Creating Memorable Hooks and Rhymes: In modern song lyrics writing style, rhymes and hooks have become the best ways to lay the foundation for the resonation of songs with the listeners.

Hooks are the melodic and lyrical gems that draw listeners into your song, while rhyme schemes add a poetic and musical quality to the song lyrics and dictate how the rhyming words are arranged in the song. 

There are several rhyme schemes, and the common schemes to use while writing song lyrics are:

1. AABB:

In this rhyme scheme, the first two lines rhyme with each other (A), and the next two lines also rhyme with each other (B). The pattern would look like this:

A (line 1)

A (line 2)

B (line 3)

B (line 4)

2. ABAB:

This rhyme scheme alternates rhyming lines. The first line (A) rhymes with the third line (A), while the second line (B) rhymes with the fourth line (B). The pattern would look like this:

A (line 1)

B (line 2)

A (line 3)

B (line 4)

3. ABCB:

In this scheme, the second and fourth lines rhyme (B), while the first and third lines do not rhyme (A and C). The pattern would look like this:

A (line 1)

B (line 2)

C (line 3)

B (line 4)

However, it's equally important that you rhyme within reason. They should look natural, not forced. A forced rhyme in a song would definitely sound cheesy and bad to the ears. Avoid inserting phrases or words in order to force a rhyme. 

"Don’t make it a stressful thing and force yourself to write songs. Sometimes the most impressive stories and phrases come out of thin air."

— Moya

In fact, you can try out non-standard rhyme schemes in order to avoid having your song lyrics sound cheesy. You can explore assonance/consonance rhymes, pararhymes, alliteration, forced rhymes, etc. and learn to adopt them when you want to write the lyrics to a song.

9. Play with Rhythm and Meter: This might not be entirely essential as far as modern-day songwriting is concerned, but at the same time, playing with rhythm and meter while writing your song lyrics could help determine the flow and feel of the song and also create a deep interest. You can achieve this through repetition to establish a rhythmic pattern, syncopation and offbeat phrasing to add a unique twist to the rhythm, and rhythm to suit the emotional tone of your song. 

For instance, fast-paced and upbeat rhythms may complement energetic themes, while slower rhythms may suit reflective or melancholic themes.

10. Ensure There Is A Conversational Quality: In every good conversation or communication, clarity, brevity, and authenticity take huge credits. On how to write the lyrics to a song, avoid being too poetic in such a way that could make the content less understandable. Just make it simple, concise as if you are conversing with a small group of people. 

According to Andrea Stolpe, "Keep in mind that the most important quality of a great lyric is authenticity. Write like you would if you were relaying the story to a small group of people." 

11. Avoid Cliches: One way to ensure that your song doesn't stand out is to use overused clichés while writing the lyrics. Phrases like "Got got to have you by my side", "I saw her walkin’ down the street..", "I’m down on my knees and beggin’ you please" are overused. 

It's better to use alternate phrases that convey the same or similar meanings. The best way to avoid cliches is to avoid forced rhymes and lyrics, overused phrases, over-the-top analogies and bad grammar in lyric writing. 

12. Add Bridges, Pre-Choruses and Interludes: These elements add depth and variation to your composition, making it a captivating masterpiece. 

Bridges are a departure from the usual structure of verses and choruses. They often help to introduce new melodies, chords, or lyrics, thereby creating an exciting contrast that adds depth to your song. They can also build tension or provide a moment of reflection before returning to the chorus, leaving listeners eager for the resolution.

Pre-choruses, on the other hand, serve as musical connectors. They bridge the gap between verses and choruses. They can help you build anticipation, intensify emotions, and pave the way for the chorus to make a powerful impact while writing your lyrics.

Interludes offer a breath of fresh air within your song. They provide instrumental breaks or variations that tend to give listeners a moment to absorb the emotions and themes of the song. 

So, basically, bridges, pre-chorus, and Interludes can help you to enhance the listening experiences of the audience through smooth transitioning and proper composition of the emotional arc.

13. Proofread and Edit Your Lyrics: Editing and proofreading your lyrics are essential steps in the songwriting process. They allow you to refine your ideas, enhance the flow of your lyrics, and ensure that your message comes across clearly and in the best way possible. Like all forms of writing, the first inscriptions are drafts, that need further refining.

You can proofread and edit your lyrics to a song by trimming unnecessary words and phrases, improving and adjusting the rhythms and rhymes, and ensuring you stick to the same tone throughout the song.

You can also reach out to fellow songwriters and collaborate with them by joining songwriting groups and workshops, especially those that can offer constructive criticism and support.

"Writing is all about self-editing; it’s all about being present & being aware of what’s happening"

— Joan Armatrading

14. Avoid Lengthy Lyrics: Lengthy lyrics compound problems. So, experiment with simplicity in your songwriting by crafting a short verse of four or six lines that flows into a chorus. You can also consider starting your song with the chorus to instantly capture the listener's attention. 

15. Ensure The Lyrics Fits Into The Music: Singing ability and melody are the final touches that breathe life into your words, turning them into a soul-stirring symphony. Therefore, ensuring your lyrics fit the music seamlessly enhances the song's overall impact. You can achieve this by paying close attention to the phrasing, syllables, and emotional alignment, studying various lyrical and musical genres, and adjusting the mood in your lyrics to match your chosen music style.

Ways To Improve On How To Make Song Lyrics 

"My advice for songwriters? Sit down and work at it! The more songs you write, the more good songs you’ll have."

— Roger McGuinn

The following are the best quick hacks to learn how to write song lyrics after following the step-by-step guide in the aforementioned section. They are:

1. Be consistent in practicing how to write a song lyrics. 
2. Learn to read and write music. This can aid your understanding of lyrics writing.
3. Gain some musical instrument skills. This can help you while composing your songs.
4. Create a melody to match the lyrics you have written .
5. Let other art forms (or music) inspire you.
6. Experiment with changing up your songwriting process.
7. Improve your singing skills.

"Musical magic is created by human beings: learning their craft, trying things out, practising."

— Joe Jackson

Can I Make My Own Song?

The good news is that songwriting is accessible to everyone! Anybody can make their own songs. All it takes is a foundational understanding of the musical instrument you choose, be it a guitar or a piano, coupled with an idea and the right techniques. With these essential ingredients, you can embark on your songwriting journey with confidence and creativity.

Also, the step-by-step guide we provided can aid your writing and song making skills.

How Many Lines In A Verse

There exists no rigid rule regarding the ideal length of a verse; it can vary based on artistic expression. Generally, verses tend to be lengthier compared to the chorus within a composition.

How Do You Write A Song For Beginners?

• Start with a simple structure: Verse - Chorus - Verse - Chorus.
• Choose a central theme or emotion for your song.
• Write lyrics that express your theme or emotion in a clear and relatable way.
• Create a catchy and repetitive chorus that sticks in the listener's mind.
• Experiment with basic chord progressions on an instrument like guitar or piano.
• Keep it simple, and don't be afraid to explore and have fun with your creativity.

How Do You Write A Nice Song?

Like we said earlier, there is no hard and fast rules on how to write the lyrics to a song. Writing a nice song is a delightful journey of creativity and expression.  

You can start by finding inspiration in your emotions or experiences, craft a memorable chorus that captures the essence of your theme, express your emotions through concise verses by using vivid imagery and mbrace simplicity in melody and instrumentation. Also, be authentic.

Lastly, edit and refine your your lyrics.

Protecting Your Lyrical Works From Infringement 

Copyright is the area of law that protects your original creative work from being copied or used without your permission. It is a right that is internationally recognized and protected. Therefore, understanding copyright and the process of song registration is essential in securing your intellectual property. 

Basically, copyright automatically protects your original songs as soon as they are created and fixed in a tangible form, such as written lyrics or recorded music. However, registering your work with the copyright office offers additional legal protection and benefits, such as the legal presumption of ownership and the ability to claim statutory damages and attorney fees in the event of copyright infringement.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is beneficial to remember that songwriting itself is a journey of self-discovery, growth, and boundless creativity. With consistent practice, you'll continue to refine your skills. So, just stay inspired and keep on writing from the depths of your heart.

"The hell with the rules. If it sounds right, then it is."

― Eddie Van Halen

Happy songwriting, and may your creative symphony continue to play on!